DBW Offers $3.75 Million in Grants
The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) offers grants to help local public entities enhance safety on California’s waterways and clear them of abandoned vessels. The application period for the grant programs, Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment (BSEE) and Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE), will be open from March 16 through April 16, 2020. Applicants should review the grant guidelines and participate in a workshop.
BSEE Grant Program
Up to $1 million is available to local government agencies that can demonstrate a need for patrol boats, engines, personal watercraft, search and rescue equipment, and patrol and diving equipment. These competitive grants are intended to augment existing local resources and not to fully fund boating safety and enforcement patrol units. The US Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety Program provides BSEE grant funding.
SAVE Grant Program
Up to $2.75 million is available to local public agencies statewide to receive surrendered vessels and to remove and dispose of derelict vessels on coastal and inland waterways. Grant funding comes from the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund. DBW awards grants on a competitive basis to eligible public agencies based on demonstrated need.
Applications for both grant programs must be submitted to DBW through its Online Grant Application System (OLGA). Prior to applying, the division encourages new applicants to view a 45-minute webinar that provides detailed instructions on creating an account in OLGA and navigating the application system. DBW will also host two-hour workshops for each grant program to help applicants write competitive applications.
Workshops
BSEE Workshop
- Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020
- Time: 10 a.m.-noon
- Location: DBW Headquarters, One Capitol Mall, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814
- RSVP: Johanna Naughton, via email or (916) 327-1826
SAVE Workshop
- Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020
- Time: 1-3 p.m.
- Location: DBW Headquarters, One Capitol Mall, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814
- RSVP: Ron Kent, via email or (916) 327-1825
Interested applicants can also access the workshops via teleconference. The workshops will be recorded for those who can’t participate in the live presentations.
Once grant applications have been reviewed and scored, DBW will send out notice of award letters via OLGA. They expect to announce awards by August 2020. Find more info on DBW’s website, https://dbw.parks.ca.gov.